Bon Voyage les Enfants

Here's a bad picture of me from about 6 weeks ago, when I was feeding the baby beaver siblings. I was so astonished to see a Beaver for the first time just a week before, and learn that they were held in a blanket cradled in arms and given a baby bottle of milk that wasn't too hot and wasn't too cold but just right. And the little one made contented noises and grasped the bottle just like our human babies too. I am constantly amazed how we are not all that different from our animal friends... even wild ones.

I tired to contain my exuberant delight when within days I was the one feeding them and after that, taking them to the sink for swimming lessons. Two or three weeks later, the babies were able to be moved from the tank they'd called home to the outside in the fresh air in a much bigger crib, so to speak. In it there were lots of nice green things to chew on and their own little pool. But when we'd go over to check on them, they just reached up to us and did that plaintative whine that went right to my substitute, part-time Beaver Mommy's heart.

We began to wean them...  And here's that next step - giving them a pacifier for a minute or two.  But when the still can cry and just want their bottle. Sound familiar parents?


Yet, we must be strong!  It was high time to start to eat reeds, like their moms would get them doing if in the wild.  Below I caught them gnawing on something green and was pleased (I had just put one of them in their little pool to swim so one has a wet face). But when they spotted Uncle Bill and I peering at them, they come over and reach up for us.   You can hear their endearing little calls (though Bill and I are talking)... gee, no imprinting there. 



Heart melters, these two. But as of last week they've gone off to a rehabber's house with lots of nice land and a natural river where they will easily adapt and grow and have their own babies. We humans will be a distant memory, though they may not be very afraid if they see one. Hopefully if they do, it will be a respectful human being. I'm glad they have each other as they embark on this next adventure.

More of the Baby Giraffe

He's grown taller since I took this, but here is a little look at the newest baby giraffe at the zoo, back by popular demand! Here he was only about 24 days old and darling darling darling.



Today he's a few months older, and very much taller. And more news-- there's another giraffe who is expecting. She'll deliver anytime between Fall and January -- yes, their gestation is so long it's that big a window for a due date. There have been sonograms on the mother and the baby is in there, though you can barely tell to look at her. I attribute it to their long legs... or the fact that the mother's belly is so far above my head that it's an optical illusion, LOL. Could you imagine if the doctor gave human parents to be a 6 mo. Window for a due date???!

A Manor for the Meerkats

At the zoo they treat the animals like GOLD I tell you. Every day there is something different done for enrichment, which helps animals do the things they would normally do if in the wild. Some enrichment is geared to stimulate their senses, others recreate natural behaviors, some make them think and some are just for pure fun.

Here is a cardboard box that some kids in a special zoo program turned into a "Meerkat Manor". These curious little fellows go straight to work, exploring every crevice in their comical way.



Oh yes, they are busy! But look what happens when a plane goes by (which you can easily hear amid the din of excited zoo visitors).



All the action stops and they snap to attention and peer up at the skies. Are you a fan of the meerkat?

A Soggy Day with Geese

I am behind in posting things.... so this was from a few weeks ago. We had two solid days of torrential rain. I went to the park to see if I could find the lone, orphaned baby duck I had been feeding every day (with the hope it would get big enough to not be so appealing as a meal to every predator around). I didn't see it that day and feared the worst. I went it Wellies and tromped through all kinds of reeds and muck to look for it and had the fire ant and mosquito bites to prove it for about two weeks.

Discouraged, I was headed home and saw Mr and Mrs Goose searching for something in the flooded grass. I had cracked corn with me, which they will eat out of my hand, so I called to them. As they usually do, they trumpet rather loudly, and, led me Mr. Goose, the two came over. He gallantly assumed the position, threatening me with his beak in attack mode as they approached, while the Mrs. followed behind, confident that he was on the case. I have seen people run from this posturing, but I just stand there and talk to them in a bit of a sing song way. I know I am not there to harm them, and in fact, I am bringing them something natural and good to eat.



You would not believe how utterly soft they are. When they eat like this I get to feel their necks as they occasionally brush against me. They just don't make the words to describe how it feels.

I suppose it's obvious by now... These two are my absolute favorite birds and I pamper them when they let me. Something new I've noticed this year is that they both have kind of fleshy feathery knickers hanging down over their little legs, when they didn't before. I've seen Geese who have quite a bit of this waddle, but I assumed it was quite like our chins -- something that can sag as one gets on in years. Does anybody know about this?

Best of all, the next day I went back and saw that baby duck. Who knows where it was hiding when I was searching high and low. I fed it quite a bit and noticed it had doubled in size, and was getting in some real feathers, at least teen age ones, in place of fuzz.

Another Look at the Nutria

To continue on with getting to know the Nutrias, and help you see that they really are nothing like a rat, or what people think of rats (namely: ew and ick), here's a cute little guy who came over to me as I was walking in the park a few months ago. (If you're asking What's a Nutria, click that name on the tabs on the sidebar over there to see)


Now, would a RAT do that? No. He looks more like one of those miniature dogs wanting a treat. Or a very well trained gerbil. A rabbit with less cute lips and no hopping? Well, he certainly looks like a Nutria if nothing else. Because of his tail, he's in all this trouble, being called a water rat. Add a flat tail to the same body, face and teeth and he'd look just like a beaver and suddenly folks might be calling him cute.

Well, I gave him some bread, and --this was shot several months ago--it was the last time I did. I know these little guys have gotten carb addicted because people in the park throw them so much bread and they are really herbivores. I know wheat is a grain, and maybe it's not that bad for them but sliced rye doesn't grow on a riverbank with the rest of their food.


Since I've done so much training now between the Zoo and the Wildlife Center, I have stopped giving them bread... If I'm going to feed wild animals it will only be things as close as possible to their natural diets. When I see someone throw Fritos (oy!) to ducks (who will eat them) or M&M's (OY!!!) to a squirrel (who will eat them) I want to charge up and ask "What are you THINKING giving them these things? Do you think BLUE M&M's exist in nature??????" in an entirely too loud voice... or whack them upside the head (the people, not the animals).

Name that Colorado Bird

Here's a little taste of the many visitors we had at the cabin in Colorado. I was amazed as we were only there about 4 days, and are not there for months. If you put out seed, how do birds suddenly see that food source and start coming daily? I thought it would take a while, but there they were.

We do have a metal fire pit on the porch and it was filled with water and a few rocks to keep it held down and when we arrived the mountain birds were in it, using it as a birdbath and water fountain, though there is a small lake just at the end of our long drivewat -- but it is about 20 acres away. Maybe that gave us a leg up.

When I get back I will post some mini-movies I took of these guys and more. Until then, can you identify what kind of birds they are? If you click each photo, it should enlarge for you and give you more detail.

Number One: Plump and tame.


Number Two: Orange breast


Number Three: Brilliant Blue and aggressive with a chipmunk


Number Four: Red head

Number Five: Yellow Orange but look at the shape of his beak (with sunflower seed in it!)